DARK DAYS ARE FOR HIS GLORY!
(by E. H. Maze)
Chapter 8
Leopard Spots
I’m sure you have heard the
expression, “A Leopard can’t change his spots.”
You don’t usually hear people say that about you. Oh, don’t get me wrong, they say it about you
- you just don’t hear them. It’s a
round-table discussion where you are usually not invited. People who talk about you to describe their
belief about you use the expression “A Leopard can’t change his spots.” In their opinion, although you have tried to
change your behavior, just like a leopard is born with spots and they don’t
wear off, so, you are spotted with a character, personality, ethics and morals
that you are helpless to change – no matter how hard you try. Again, these things are rumors from those who
like to talk about you and do not believe in you anymore. If you are like most
of us you have either been accused of being a leopard (this is how people call
us hypocrites), or have actually felt like one (that is to say, that you have
tried to change, but feel that you are who you are, so why pretend to be
different).
Well, I have good news for
you. Have you ever thought that the
spots were placed on you? Maybe, you are
not really a leopard! What if you have
simply bought into the lie that you were made the way you have been behaving for
the last few years?
STOP!
What if you finally
realized that the way you want to be is the very way you were meant to be? What if the Leopard can have its spots
removed to reveal a lion? That’s
you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you
are a phony again! Don’t believe the lie
that “you can’t change.” Start by
believing that you can change a lie! Here’s how to do it: First, if
it’s not true, don’t believe it (sorry for being so profound). Secondly, if it is true, well listen, you can
change, so don’t worry about that anymore.
After all, all you are really
doing is trying to get back to being that wonderful person that God created you
to be in the first place. Right?
Sure, for the past few years
you have been living like a leopard. You
have done the wrong things. You have
hurt people and you have let people hurt you.
You have invaded other people’s territory and reeked havoc. Worst of all, you have let your guard down
and let others reek havoc on you. But,
all that can end. All you have to do is
realize that within you there is a power to remove the stains (spots) of your
past. There is a lion under there. His name is Jesus! He is the King of your jungle!
It’s not about the spots,
anyway. God can tame the leopard. And, listen very carefully to this: I think Leopards are beautiful. I know this isn’t really about the leopard,
but that the spots are a metaphor for your inability to change. So, we get back to the lie that people don’t
believe you are capable of changing.
Well, of course they don’t think that you can change – they have to
contend with their own spots. It’s
easier to notice other people’s spots. I
don’t have to deal with my own spots if I can keep the focus on your spots.
Good news. People don’t have the power to change
you. Only God can do that. But, He can’t do it if you are not willing to
let Him live in you.
Maybe your spots are
supernatural! You are who you are - all
you have to do is use what God has given you for a cause that is befitting the
King of the Jungle. The King of your
jungle (your circle of influence) is not a lion, but a Leopard with spots.
Your spots are an important
part of your beauty! Are
you willing to let Him live in the Spotted Leopard?
You are not just loved (that can be just so much trite talk), you
are lovely.
You are not just beautiful because God loves you and says that you
are beautiful. You ARE beautiful because
God made you that way.
Okay, you’re an idiot – if that’s what you want to believe! Still, that has nothing to do with the fact
that God made you beautiful. The worst
case, you are a beautiful idiot.
Okay, you have done things that make others see you as the ugliest
creature to ever walk the earth. You
will have to trust me on this one, but you can take it from me – I get better
looking everyday. There is something
about the lessons we learn that make us more godly – that is, if we learn them.
Here
is your miracle: If
you are learning the lessons of your inner and outer ugliness - the power it
takes to walk as a spotted leopard around all those perfectly divine animals
that can’t see their own spots (or their own ugliness) – then, you will become a
beautiful person – first to yourself, then to others.
end of Chapter (click here to go to Chapter 9)- if link is not active, the chapter is not yet ready. Check back later, please.
Please let me know if you have read (and enjoyed) this chapter by sending me a quick email to: ehylandmaze@aol.com
bless you.....................................Eugene H. Maze
This chapter and all chapters related to this website book entitled "Dark Days" (copyright 2004) was written and published by Eugene H. Maze. No portion of this book may be copied, sold or distributed either by electronic or other means in any fashion whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the author. Permission for distribution may be obtained by contacting the author at ehylandmaze@aol.com. Links to this and all previous and subsequent pages of this book entitled "Dark Days" may be distributed freely without permission.